10 Most Overlooked Sports Bikes That Will Last A Lifetime

At one point in history, a sports bike was something that simply represented pure performance. Today, the segment has evolved into something quite different, meaning you can find a sports bike for just about every "purse and purpose." With such a wide variety of sports bikes available to us, it is pretty easy to overlook a few good ones.

At the end of the day, manufacturers want us to go out and buy a halo model. It is just more profitable. So some bikes take a back seat. But sometimes a shorter features list and less performance actually equates to more longevity, and more value in the long run. All these bikes offer a balance that favors reliability over performance.

Honda CBR300R

MSRP: $4,899

Honda

If you are shopping for a sports bike with a budget of $5k, we highly recommend looking at used options. But, if you are a new rider and want something reliable to start on, you can’t really go wrong with the little CBR300R. Well, technically you can, because if you are a new rider, we highly recommend spending the extra money on the ABS model. We can assure you, it is worth it.

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Kawasaki Ninja 650

MSRP: $7,399

Kawasaki

The fact that Kawasaki reduced the price of this by $900 only serves to underscore how overlooked this bike is. Nobody is buying it, and that is a shame. One look at Kawasaki’s rather extensive sports bike lineup, and it is easy to see why, though. It is stuck between the Ninja 500 and the ZX-4R in terms of price. New riders will go for the 500, and literally everyone else will buy the ZX-4R. It is still worth considering at this price – sans ABS – because that 650 engine will outlast us all.

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Triumph Daytona 660

MSRP: $9,195

Triumph

In terms of reliability, Triumph is on something of a roll. Build quality is second-to-none, and this is a proven platform, so we can say with some confidence that it will remain reliable. This is, however, a hotly contested segment, so it is pretty easy to see why this will get overlooked with so many options, especially from established superbike manufacturers. So the Daytona, although pretty, remains something of an underdog.

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Yamaha YZF-R7

MSRP: $9,199

Yamaha

Sometimes a name can actually let a motorcycle down somewhat. The old YZF-R7 was a limited-edition homologation special and the new R7 effectively replaced the outgoing R6. Expectations were set unreasonably high. It was never meant to be anything like either of those bikes, but rather an entry-level track bike for budding racers wanting to compete in twins racing (before it came out, people were converting MT-07s). Or simply for those wanting to learn how to ride on track. What we have in the R7 is a great, yet misunderstood, sports bike.

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Suzuki GSX-8R

MSRP: $9,669

Suzuki

After waiting quite literally decades for a new bike from the Japanese giant, once it came, nobody really wanted it. It might seem harsh, but the reality of the matter is, whenever a manufacturer builds several bikes on one platform, the sports bike version is always going to be compromised in some way. This might be both modern and reliable, but the older inline-4 bikes offer a lot more performance for not much more money. This is an excellent modern-day middleweight, though.

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Honda CBR650R

MSRP: $9,899

Honda

Adding a new automatic transmission to this only made it more of a niche product. It is a bike that will appeal to a certain buyer, though. If you like the idea of owning an automatic inline-4, this, along with the CB650R naked, will be your only options. It is also a quietly brilliant sports bike for the real world, with comfort-oriented ergonomics and a long list of other modern features.

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Aprilia RS 660

MSRP: $11,549

Aprilia

Public sentiment will tell you that Italian motorcycles are unreliable and will never outlast anything from Japan. Aprilia seemed to be proving the theory with the first few RS 660 sports bikes suffering from some pretty serious issues. But, since then, those issues have been rectified and all the 660 middleweight bikes are proving to be perfectly reliable. It also offers a genuine supersport experience with ample power, and a nimble, lightweight chassis, not to mention class-leading electronics.

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Suzuki GSX-R600

MSRP: $11,999

Suzuki

In the past, the 600cc class was buzzing with activity, and this was one of the many great options. That was 20 years ago, and this has remained unchanged since 2011. All its life it has lived in the shadows of the GSX-R750. But at $12k, this offers incredible bang for the buck and has already proven it will go the distance, even out on track.

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Ducati SuperSport 950

MSRP: $15,495

Ducati

In reality, with the new V2 priced so similarly, the SuperSport is getting crowded out of the Ducati lineup. It only differentiates itself by being that much more comfortable, and being that much more reliable with fairly lengthy service intervals (maybe too long?). Yes, a reliable Ducati. Its 937cc L-twin has been a staple in the Ducati lineup for years now and does not suffer from any of the issues that plagued the brand in the past. It is still a Ducati, though, and gets pretty hot among other quirks.

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Zero SR/S

MSPR: $20,995

Zero Motorcycles

With solid range and pretty impressive performance, the SR/S is certainly a competent performer. It is pretty hard to compare apples to apples when it is the only edible apple in the basket. Other electric sports bikes promising more for less have all failed, and here we sit, with this $20k bike one of the most affordable options. The bike is well-made and will last a lifetime. Just remember, the battery won’t.

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